I didn't wear my retainer. Do I need braces again?

Question

I wore it all day all night for the first 4 months. After that my dentist told me to just wear it at night, and I forgot about it. Now my teeth have shifted quite a bit. Do I need braces to fix them? My retainer fits, but it doesn't match up properly with my teeth, I can get it on though. I did this the last couple days and now it doesn't hurt so I don't know if it will make a difference. Help please.

Answer 1

Hey i did the same thing and it got to the point where i would go weeks with out it in. So when i finally did put them in they hurt and couldn't keep them in. When i went to the orthodontics they said either i wear my retainer full time for the next two weeks or else i was going to need braces again. So i did wear it and they hurt and couldn't keep them in at first at night but eventually they loosened up and it corrected my teeth and now i am back to just wearing them every night.

Answer 2

the bottom probably shifted inward and you might need a new retainer...hey have you talked to a dentist or your parents about it. you can maybe contact another dentist other than your own if you don't want to get in trouble

Answer 3

It is a possiblity. I wore my retainer for 2 years after braces, and once I stopped wearing it, my teeth shifted. Its not that bad, but they're not perfectly straight. My advice is to go to your orthodontist and tell him your problem and he can possibly make you a new mold for your teeth. Also wear your retainer now!!!!! It will move your teeth into the position they're suppose to be!

Answer 4

Don't panic. I stopped wearing my retainers almost 2 years ago, and my teeth are still fine.  Sure, they won't be AS pretty straight as they used to be.  But you won't need new braces for a very long time.

As long as you can still get the retainers on, just wear them a few nights in a row every so often and you should be OK.  You'd be amazed at the work that retainers alone do.